So in my small Indiana town we have "those neighbors" who live across the street.
In the middle of town and they have 10 cars in front of their house, 9 beagles in dog runs, and damn cats running loose everywhere.
Over the last 2 years their cats have ruined everything in our garage with cat piss everywhere. Now they started getting under our back porch (and yes that area now smells like cat piss too).
Well the last straw was night before last. Bring my boots in yesterday morning from front porch... And you guessed it -freaking cat piss. Well - I've been passive for the last 2 years dealing with this issue. Animal control says they won't trap domestic animals, county sheriffs says there's nothing they can do, we've complained to the neighbors (and they say they aren't their cats) - even though they are seen feeding them daily.
So my question is what would you guys do?
I live in the middle of town, so shooting them is not an option.
But I sure would love to hear some options or experiences.
Been thinking about trapping them, but there are so many. It would be a full time job.

Import some coyotes...cat problem will go away

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On the Oak Savannah

Get a Hav-A-Heart trap, when you catch one take it to animal control. IF they won't take'm, just relocate'm.

I guess this is one time I can be thankful for the somewhat draconian laws regarding stray cats and dogs.

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Release the Kraken

Dont give up complaining. It not the cats fault. Its the owners failing to properly care for their pets.
Jim

Everything? How are they getting into your garage? I think if this had been going on with me for two whole years, I'd have figured out some way to keep stray animals of any type out of my garage. Starting with keeping the garage door and any windows closed, maybe?

Why would you leave your boots outside on the front porch overnight? Just curious.

Maybe they aren't their cats. No law against feeding stray animals.

Ok....Check with maybe Tractor Supply, or farm store like that...They sometimes have Coyote urine in a little bottle...WARNING, wear something like those surgery gloves when handling....It's does smell bad......

A few drops here and there around your yard, garage, house, anywhere...A little bit goes a long way...

I guarantee, you will not have any animals coming into your yard any more.

That stuff is excellent for keeping rabbits, squirrels, raccoons or any other unwanted critters away.



WuzzFuzz

P.S. It does not keep unwanted phone calls, or bill collectors away though.

There you go!

There's some college boys been smuggling coyotes into southeast Ohio...maybe you could pay 'em to bring a few into your area.

I am not a cat hater at all.
But I am not a person who favors people who don't have responsibility for their pets.
Doors and windows are closed. Somehow they still squeeze in.
Boots outside - courtesy for carpets and wood floors
Pets are a responsibility and if you aren't responsible for your all your pets and actions - well most people know the answer for that.
And if you aren't the owner - don't feed strays.

Didn't say you were.

Nothing wrong with that, I do the same thing myself. I'll also carry them inside and sit them on some newspapers or something rather than leaving them outside, especially on the front porch.

The answer? What's the question?

I won't agree with that. If that's your philosophy, fine.

I'd try the coyote urine thing. I'd also figure out how the cats are squeezing into the garage and seal those areas off. Shouldn't be too hard to do.

I had a next door neighbor that was an uber cat loving person by most peoples accounts, but she never had them vaccinated, wormed or treated when injured or sick.

These cats dug up almost every potted plants we had and used them as litter boxes. They also ripped up patio furniture and did other damage. She completely ignored the laws regarding responsible pet ownership. Numerous warnings from the animal control people did no good.

I used a humane type trap to catch them. I would then call animal control to pick them up. It took ten months and over 60 ( yes, 60+ ) trips by animal control to pick up trapped cats, to get the problem under control.

Good luck with the urine. I feel your pain.

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" I don't recall, senator."

I'm going to say this and I hope no one is offended but......why....why do you have so many animals if you can't control them?!!?!?!

We have plenty of dogs and whatnot but none are running wild, no cats running loose. I have never seen a pack of wild dogs. Or dogs of leash. My biggest concern is the 90# soccer mom driving her Porsche SUV who can't hold onto her 150# rottweiler

Personally, I would become "that neighbor" to them. I would trap a couple, and throw them in with their beagles. Don't get caught doing anything to them. They'll tell the ASPCA, and the next thing you know, you're all over the internet, and you'll have them protesting and harassing you until you move.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Oh great! A real pissin' match.

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Scoundrel & Ne'er-Do-Well

About 15 years ago my neighborhood was infested with feral cats. They were breeding like....feral cats. It started by some idiots across the street who would get a kitten for their kids. After about 6 to 8 months, they would kick the cat outside and get another kitten. One of my neighbors and I would trap them, have them spayed and neutered, and released them. While it took a little time to solve the problem, the feral cat problem disappeared. Almost disappeared. One of the feral cats now lives in my house with me. The people across the street? They moved away. They are a problem for another neighborhood.

If you catch it and animal control won't take it, deal with it yourself.
Don't dump your problems on someone else and call it relocation.

I have had 4 relocated dogs wander up to my house in the last 3 years. The last one climbed over a 5 foot chain link fence to get to my purebred GSD while she was in heat. I would love to get my hands on the person that relocated that dog.

If you are not prepared to deal with the cat yourself, then make sure animal control will take before you capture it.

I like cats and the humane Havaheart trap is the way to go. Then call Animal Control. You can get a proper cat sized trap at any local farm supply store for about $40.

They come in all sizes. Even one that would work with small children. (just kidding)

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

First a well placed .22 short CB at night with the muzzle inside your
window, inaudible from any more than ten feet. Second relocate that
one. Repeat as needed. And no I don't hate cats, I like them. The cats
you describe are not the real problem, the're just being cats. The
people are the problem and the cats may not really belong to them or
anybody. The people who run the animal shelters and know animals
better than the general public will tell you that you really can't
domesticate cats that have grown up outside and were not raised in
captivity. If you remove them from your neighborhood you're not being
cruel, just keeping a bad situation from getting worse.

TSC has been having a deal on live traps, 2 for $25. A little one & one a little larger.

I currently don't own a cat. I've had a cat or two in thee past. They stay in the house. I like Persians. There's no reason for a responsible cat owner to let their cat roam the neighborhood. Barn cats are the exception as their freedom serves a purpose.
Cats wandering on their own usually have fleas. Fleas wind up on your dog or get tracked in the house by you even if you don't own a pet. I feed the birds and if I see a cat in my yard stalking birds, it will wind up in the cat cemetery.

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SOS USA

16 in. x 5-1/2 in. x 5-1/2 in. Small Animal Trap
Harbor Freight - Sale: $6.99

16'' L x 5-1/2'' W x 5-1/2'' H Collapsible Small Animal Trap

I LOVE cats - But there is a limit ...

Bekeart

I have five cats right now. There all rescues. Three go out side and keep the rodent population down. They kill and eat everything. These are working cats on my hobby farm. My neighbors are aware of them keeping there property clean of rodents too.

But they don't destroy personal property.

For a cat to piss in the open(male) you must have a female scenting that area. There marking there territory too. These are outside or feral cats?

My three outside cats are tamed feral cats there inside on cold nights.

Sold! I'm on my way to Tractor Supply!

That might work in a rural setting, but I wouldn't advise that in town. Had a case locally, years ago. Guy shot a neighbors cat, cat crawled back home with a bullet wound. Police investigated. It didn't end well for the shooter. Cats are surprisingly bullet resistant.

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~ S&W aficionado in training ~

I had a problem with cats crapping in my front and side yard
near my fruit trees here in Las Vegas, NV. I purchased some
Wolf Pee from Predator Urine - Original PredatorPee - Free Shipping - coyote, wolf, bobcat, mt. Lion, fox urine for deer,coyote, rat, rabbit, raccoon, mice problems and more. They are in Maine. The
stuff is not cheap, but it works. They don't come around
anymore, and I still see the little buggers wandering around
my neighborhood from time to time. It also doesn't help
that my moron neighbor next door leaves food out for them
all the time. What I started to do is pick up the cat droppings
and then flinging them over my block wall into his back yard.

You could also purchase a Havahart animal trap from Amazon
.com and trap the cats. Then you spray them down with the
Wolf Pee and let them go. The stuff is really pungent and
reeks. You spray enough of those cats and the neighbors
might think twice about feeding them.

Don't get mad....get even!

My guess is they are strays/ferals that your neighbors feed. The male cats spray to mark their territory. Fixing them usually eliminates that. Some areas have free spay/neuter for feral cats at local animal shelters or SPCA and loan out traps so you don't have to purchase. There also might be local cat rescue groups that are willing to trap or help trap and might be able to fix and locate to local farms that need barn cats. If they can trap, fix but not relocate at least you will not be having an increasing population and spraying problems. I am a volunteer cat trapper myself and there are many like me that have helped to make the feral problem in our community much better. Do some research on the computer for local cat groups/rescue/trapping.

As far as the spray on your boots, they sell an enzyme cleaner at the big pet shops that works wonders. White bottle with red letters. Have had to use it myself so I know it works. I forget the same of it but will let you know.

I live out in the country and I've always had a cat as a pet(inside). When i had an outside cat. Cats would show up/eat my cat's food and fight with him(he was fixed). They were wild and would run away on sight. I think people from town were dumping them out on us. Over the years I've probably killed 25/30. Semi wild cats are death on birds/rabbits/squirrels. So if he shows up here he doesn't last long. And as I said I am a cat lover and will always have one for a pet.

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S&W Accumulator

A friend of mine had two house cats and noticed a feral female hanging around.She kept an eye on it and found its kittens.She now has six house cats

No first hand experience, but a friend lived more or less in the desert. There were lots of birds, mostly doves, and ground squirrels. Cats were getting to them. He didn't have a 22, and his 30-06 might have been a trifle too much. He bought some 22 CBs and borrowed my MAS 45, 22 rifle. He usually got one shot kills. He eliminated the problem, without a shot cat escaping. Of course he was a good practical shot; he had a score of 24 deer over the years with 25 shots; he kept count for me as I made the handloads for him.

Again I want to say that I like cats and have had one before
at different times and they stayed in the house where pet
cats really belong for several reasons. I don't know the
details of the case you refer to so can't comment. But the key
part of my post is "well placed". Way back when I lived in
town I had and still have a certain .22 rifle with a 2.5X scope
that would put CB shorts at point of aim at 15-20 yds or so.
A good low power scope will allow shooting in pretty dim
light. Hunters sometimes lament that there's more rabbits in
town than in the country. I have yet to see a cat or rabbit
that was resistant to a CB behind the ear. There must have
been some drama to the case you refer to to generate a
police investigation. The situation the OP is complaining
about apparently has no one even claiming ownership of the
cats. Another old saying comes to mind, "loose lips sink
ships".

Yea I'd be careful in shooting them and talking about it on here. God forbid you have one of these yo yo's that thinks animals are humans finding out you shot one...it could make your life miserable. I do feel your pain regarding the feral cat issue though. There are 5 that frequent my property and lately they've become super annoying with their yowls that go on all night.

Go to the police station. Say to the sergeant there "What do you

recommend I do about this problem?

Because I would prefer that I not be told later

that I should not have taken it into my own

hands to do something." If he says he can't help

you, ask him to put that in writing. Or speak to his

supervisor. Ask, if they prefer to do nothing, if they

then give you leave to take action?

The police cannot give you permission to break the law. They can tell you what the law is. Just about every state has laws regulating "cruelty to animals." Plenty of good advice given so far to follow.

A few years ago, I used coyote urine to keep deer from nibbling the young apple trees in my orchard. Like WuzzFuzz says, it works! They stayed out of the orchard.

It's not real cheap, though. My wife asked me about it when I told her the cost. I explained that the urine itself was relatively inexpensive. The thing that drove the cost up was the medical insurance they had to provide for the guy whose job it was to go out and "milk" the coyote every 30 minutes.

__________________
Pack light and cinch tight.

I have this problem in my boat yard. Damn things get under my boat cover and live in it and wharf up hair balls, bleed, poop, spray, etc. Friggin disgusting!

I got a bunch of mouse traps, set them up all over the dash and areas the cats need to use to gain access.

Works!

If I wanted a pelt, I'd use a rat trap, but all I want to do is scare them off and it works.

My friend ALF can probably help you.

I used to have a 95 lb. female pit bull mix that took care of any cat problem. I had several after midnight funerals for my neighbors kitties that made the mistake of wandering into my backyard.

That dog just plain hated cats.

__________________
LIVE FROM THE DAWGHOUSE

Think I'm gonna invest in the traps.
Looks like I'll be relocating some kitties to the next county real soon.
I'll let you guys know how it goes.

You should save gas money and get a catapult...



Get it? CAT-a-pult!

Hahaha thatd be something

There are folks that will kill your beloved pets if you don't keep them under control, believe it. I try to impress that upon my granddaughter, she can't wrap her head around why someone would want to kill her cat that she has loved for years. I should let her read some of these replies, that will give her something to think about, what does grandpa know?

Pet = an extended part of the family.

Neighborhood Nuisance = Uhhh I feed em every once in awhile and what they do to someone else's property is not my concern. Cause their just animals being animals.

Think that's how most people get bitten by dogs running around.

Anyone wanting the one of these neighborhood nuisances that I trap for a pet. Let me know address and I can ship it to you.

Not gonna lie. That made me laugh.
Wonder if they just charge shipping or shipping and handling?

I have responded on the subject of relocation. It is cruel. My Dad had owned a 200 acre farm. We lived closed to a very Large Army base. Folks on orders would drop off cats and dogs. They would walk the half mile to the top of the mountain and quite often slaughtered 25-39 chickens, killed baby pigs and sheep. Early in their visit if they came up to us Dad on his way to work would drop them off at the post vet for adoption. Too many went wild or feral and our farm was their killing and eating grounds. I was not proud of the sheer numbers I left to dine with the coyotes after dark. I did want to kick their owners butts. I wished their whole family could have seen how cruel this practice was. Stupid on their part to think every farmer on every lane would adopt their drop offs. I wondered if it ever bothered their conscience. Been a burr under my saddle blanket for 60 years. And farmers kept a local watch, did you see a big collie? It killed 3 or 4 pigs last night, running with a shepard mix bitch.

Cats and dogs left to run loose in towns is another problem. They don't care if you just bought a few hundred bucks in bulbs, flowers and your wife plants them to wake up to ruined spots.

I love my dogs, they are always singled out as the best mannered and minding dogs anyone has ever seen. The inquire how do you get them to do that. I always give the same answer, it's called training.

The unresponsible pet lovers can go to it. The big hot it. If folks can't take care of their pets they don't deserve them. And the ones that say, Oh it's my kids pet, well double Oh, you obviously didn't train your kids either did ja?

I own a farm, if an un-collared cat is hunting a fence row where quail live, well lets just say the coyotes are always appreciative of a late night snack. On the 160 acre farm there were cats, no collars. I had one neighbor to the east, he and his dog ate cats. None there, the Doctor who owned the farm across the road from us had a wife who like cats. She also let them run, some came up missing, she did not accuse anyone but asked me to come by so I could see and meet her cats. I saw them a few times, put the lab on them and they got the don't tread her picture, but there were still feral cats everywhere. Where did they come from? Probably town relocators. And my wife can go Tom Horne on things worse than me. A woman who is an excellent shot is something to be admired and perhaps feared.

When we would come down from STL to work on the farm before retirement, I'd be brush hogging , fixing fence etc and she'd take the 4 wheeler, an iced 6 pack, her fishing poles and deer rifle to one of the 2 small lakes/large ponds we had. So I'd be working till dark and she'd be catching big Bass and catfish, and enjoying the Bud lite, hey Manning can say it I can too, and every once in a while I'd hear her gun go KABOOM, 9x% of the time it was a coyote. I have varmint calls, a home made spinning fake furry rabbit and she's killed more yotes there than I have. There oughta be a law.

I have a female lab, registered and out of world champion stock both sides. She will come on command, sit, down and stay. Last year we had to put the older male down, broke my heart, I cried like a baby.

But if you think I have ever let them or previous labs wonder around un-watched and not under my control you are not yet wide awake.

Relocating removes the issue for the moment but is still cruel to the animal, they get hungry, they are nervous and in unknown territory. Man up, give them to the city and keep your have a heart trap busy. If you've an animal shelter, recycle. Other wise determine the least cruel method.

That's a trebuchet.

model70hunter - you stated the problems with relocating/dumping very well.

It is sad the the animals have to suffer for the previous owners stupidity.



Bekeart

It is perfectly legal to shoot stray cats in Wyoming. In town, you have to use a crossbow or similar though. Shooting guns in the city limits is regulated. The Sheriff in one county made all sorts of friends some years back with his publicized advice to shoot them on sight.

Check your local laws. Wyoming is a rough place. Other places will have different laws.

You could also take your neighbors to court under some theory related to creating a nuisance.

In MO and KS most towns have an ordinance against shooting bb, air-pellet, firearms, bows or crossbows in towns.

In MO and KS, when we have lived in towns animal control is either suspect or a joke, most often it's both.

Then god made RWS 22 cal pellet guns almost perfectly quiet at 1100 fps. Who's to argue with god?

We had a problem with cat's, summer people will move in and bring a cat when it was time to go back home and Fluffy wasn't around they would leave him many of the summer homes would be rented out to collage kids from URI, again when it came time for them to leave, they would leave the cat behind, we had so many feral cat's it wasn't funny, you would go out fishing at night and you would have at least thirty cat's following you down the shore line. Then the coyotes came in and did a good job on the cat's, we also have Fisher cat's that also ate their share.

__________________
Don

Glad you decided not to kill them its not the way to go. Just drop them off on some back road, they can take care of themselves. The cat I have had been abandoned when she was a yonker. She's now the best or one of the best cats I've ever been graced with caring for.

If those neighbors are responsible? threaten them with a lawsuit or something. Here locally, Code Enforcement will show up and write tickets that can't be got out of.